下载辰思小说免费APP
“Tellmetherest。”hesaid，takinghisson’shand，andpattingittenderly。“Let’sgoontalkingaboutherallthewaytothehotel。Helpmethroughthetime，Jemmy——helpmethroughthetime。”
BashwoodtheyoungerwasinhighspiritsattheprospectofseeingthecolorofMr。Armadale’smoney。Hetrifledwithhisfather’sanxietytotheverylast。
“Let’sseeifyourememberwhatI’vetoldyoualready。”hebegan。
“There’sacharacterinthestorythat’sdroppedoutofitwithoutbeingaccountedfor。Come！canyoutellmewhoitis？”
Hehadreckonedonfindinghisfatherunabletoanswerthequestion。ButMr。Bashwood’smemory，foranythingthatrelatedtoMissGwilt，wasasclearandreadyashisson’s。“Theforeignscoundrelwhotemptedher，andletherscreenhimattheriskofherownlife。”hesaid，withoutaninstant’shesitation。“Don’tspeakofhim，Jemmy——don’tspeakofhimagain！“
“I_must_speakofhim。”retortedtheother。“YouwanttoknowwhatbecameofMissGwiltwhenshegotoutofprison，don’tyou？
Verygood——I’minapositiontotellyou。ShebecameMrs。Manuel。
It’snousestaringatme，oldgentleman。Iknowitofficially。
Atthelatterpartoflastyear，aforeignladycametoourplace，withevidencetoprovethatshehadbeenlawfullymarriedtoCaptainManuel，ataformerperiodofhiscareer，whenhehadvisitedEnglandforthefirsttime。Shehadonlylatelydiscoveredthathehadbeeninthiscountryagain;andshehadreasontobelievethathehadmarriedanotherwomaninScotland。
Ourpeoplewereemployedtomakethenecessaryinquiries。
ComparisonofdatesshowedthattheScotchmarriage——ifitwasamarriageatall，andnotasham——hadtakenplacejustaboutthetimewhenMissGwiltwasafreewomanagain。AndalittlefurtherinvestigationshowedusthatthesecondMrs。Manuelwasnootherthantheheroineofthefamouscriminaltrial——whomwedidn’tknowthen，butwhomwedoknownow，tobeidenticalwithyourfascinatingfriend，MissGwilt。”
Mr。Bashwood’sheadsankonhisbreast。Heclaspedhistremblinghandsfastineachother，andwaitedinsilencetoheartherest。
“Cheerup！“pursuedhisson。“Shewasnomorethecaptain’swifethanyouare;andwhatismore，thecaptainhimselfisoutofyourwaynow。OnefoggydayinDecemberlasthegaveustheslip;
andwasofftothecontinent，nobodyknewwhere。HehadspentthewholeofthesecondMrs。Manuel’sfivethousandpounds，inthetimethathadelapsed(betweentwoandthreeyears)sinceshehadcomeoutofprison;andthewonderwas，wherehehadgotthemoneytopayhistravelingexpenses。ItturnedoutthathehadgotitfromthesecondMrs。Manuelherself。Shehadfilledhisemptypockets;andthereshewas，waitingconfidentlyinamiserableLondonlodging，tohearfromhimandjoinhimassoonashewassafelysettledinforeignparts！Wherehad_she_gotthemoney，youmayasknaturallyenough？Nobodycouldtellatthetime。Myownnotionis，now，thatherformermistressmusthavebeenstillliving，andthatshemusthaveturnedherknowledgeoftheBlanchards’familysecrettoprofitableaccountatlast。Thisismereguess-work，ofcourse;butthere’sacircumstancethatmakesitlikelyguess-worktomymind。Shehadanelderlyfemalefriendtoapplytoatthetime，whowasjustthewomantohelpherinferretingouthermistress’saddress。Canyouguessthenameoftheelderlyfemalefriend？Notyou！Mrs。Oldershaw，ofcourse！“
Mr。Bashwoodsuddenlylookedup。“Whyshouldshegoback。”heasked，“tothewomanwhohaddesertedherwhenshewasachild？”
“Ican’tsay。”rejoinedhisson，“unlessshewentbackintheinterestsofherownmagnificentheadofhair。Theprison-scissors，Ineedn’ttellyou，hadmadeshortworkofitwithMissGwilt’slove-locks，ineverysenseoftheword;andMrs。Oldershaw，Ibegtoadd，isthemosteminentwomaninEngland，asrestorer-generalofthedilapidatedheadsandfacesofthefemalesex。Puttwoandtwotogether;andperhapsyou’llagreewithme，inthiscase，thattheymakefour。”
“Yes，yes;twoandtwomakefour。”repeatedhisfather，impatiently。“ButIwanttoknowsomethingelse。Didshehearfromhimagain？Didhesendforherafterhehadgoneawaytoforeignparts？”
“Thecaptain？Why，whatonearthcanyoubethinkingof？Hadn’thespenteveryfarthingofhermoney？andwasn’thelooseontheContinentoutofherreach？Shewaitedtohearfromhim。Idaresay，forshepersistedinbelievinginhim。ButI’lllayyouanywageryoulike，sheneversawthesightofhishandwritingagain。
Wedidourbestattheofficetoopenhereyes;wetoldherplainlythathehadafirstwifeliving，andthatshehadn’ttheshadowofaclaimonhim。Shewouldn’tbelieveus，thoughwemetherwiththeevidence。Obstinate，devilishobstinate。Idaresayshewaitedformonthstogetherbeforeshegaveupthelasthopeofeverseeinghimagain。”
Mr。Bashwoodlookedasidequicklyoutofthecabwindow。“Wherecouldsheturnforrefugenext？”hesaid，nottohisson，buttohimself。“What，inHeaven’sname，couldshedo？”
“Judgingbymyexperienceofwomen。”remarkedBashwoodtheyounger，overhearinghim，“Ishouldsaysheprobablytriedtodrownherself。Butthat’sonlyguess-workagain:it’sallguess-workatthispartofherstory。Youcatchmeattheendofmyevidence，dad，whenyoucometoMissGwilt’sproceedingsinthespringandsummerofthepresentyear。Shemight，orshemightnot，havebeendesperateenoughtoattemptsuicide;andshemight，orshemightnot，havebeenatthebottomofthoseinquiriesthatImadeforMrs。Oldershaw。Idaresayyou’llseeherthismorning;andperhaps，ifyouuseyourinfluence，youmayheabletomakeherfinishherownstoryherself。”
Mr。Bashwood，stilllookingoutofthecabwindow，suddenlylaidhishandonhisson’sarm。
“Hush！hush！“heexclaimed，inviolentagitation。“Wehavegotthereatlast。Oh，Jemmy，feelhowmyheartbeats！Hereisthehotel。”
“Botheryourheart。”saidBashwoodtheyounger。“WaitherewhileImaketheinquiries。”
“I’llcomewithyou！“criedhisfather。“Ican’twait！Itellyou，Ican’twait！“
Theywentintothehoteltogether，andaskedfor“Mr。Armadale。”
Theanswer，aftersomelittlehesitationanddelay，wasthatMr。
Armadalehadgoneawaysixdayssince。AsecondwaiteraddedthatMr。Armadale’sfriend——Mr。Midwinter——hadonlyleftthatmorning。
WherehadMr。Armadalegone？Somewhereintothecountry。WherehadMr。Midwintergone？Nobodyknew。
Mr。Bashwoodlookedathissoninspeechlessandhelplessdismay。
“Stuffandnonsense！“saidBashwoodtheyounger，pushinghisfatherbackroughlyintothecab。“He’ssafeenough。WeshallfindhimatMissGwilt’s。”
Theoldmantookhisson’shandandkissedit。 “Thankyou，mydear。”hesaid，gratefully。“Thankyouforcomfortingme。”
ThecabwasdrivennexttothesecondlodgingwhichMissGwilthadoccupied，intheneighborhoodofTottenhamCourtRoad。
“Stophere。”saidthespy，gettingout，andshuttinghisfatherintothecab。“Imeantomanagethispartofthebusinessmyself。”
Heknockedatthehousedoor。“IhavegotanoteforMissGwilt。”
hesaid，walkingintothepassage，themomentthedoorwasopened。
“She’sgone。”answeredtheservant。“Shewentawaylastnight。”
Bashwoodtheyoungerwastednomorewordswiththeservant。Heinsistedonseeingthemistress。ThemistressconfirmedtheannouncementofMissGwilt’sdepartureonthepreviousevening。
Wherehadshegoneto？Thewomancouldn’tsay。Howhadsheleft？
Onfoot。Atwhathour？Betweennineandten。Whathadshedonewithherluggage？Shehadnoluggage。Hadagentlemanbeentoseeheronthepreviousday？Notasoul，gentleorsimple，hadcometothehousetoseeMissGwilt。
Thefather’sface，paleandwild，waslookingoutofthecabwindowasthesondescendedthehousesteps。“Isn’tshethere，Jemmy？”heasked，faintly——“isn’tshethere？”
“Holdyourtongue。”criedthespy，withthenativecoarsenessofhisnaturerisingtothesurfaceatlast。“I’mnotattheendofmyinquiriesyet。”
Hecrossedtheroad，andenteredacoffee-shopsituatedexactlyoppositethehousehehadjustleft。
Intheboxnearestthewindowtwomenweresittingtalkingtogetheranxiously。
“Whichofyouwasondutyyesterdayevening，betweennineandteno’clock？”askedBashwoodtheyounger，suddenlyjoiningthem，andputtinghisquestioninaquick，peremptorywhisper。
“Iwas，sir。”saidoneofthemen，unwillingly。
“Didyoulosesightofthehouse？——Yes！Iseeyoudid。”
“Onlyforaminute，sir。Aninfernalblackguardofasoldiercamein——“
“Thatwilldo。”saidBashwoodtheyounger。“Iknowwhatthesoldierdid，andwhosenthimtodoit。Shehasgivenustheslipagain。Youarethegreatestassliving。Consideryourselfdismissed。”Withthosewords，andwithanoathtoemphasizethem，heleftthecoffee-shopandreturnedtothecab。
“She’sgone！“criedhisfather。“Oh，Jemmy，Jemmy，Iseeitinyourface！“Hefellbackintohisowncornerofthecab，withafaint，wailingcry。“They’remarried。”hemoanedtohimself;hishandsfallinghelplesslyonhisknees;hishatfallingunregardedfromhishead。“Stopthem！“heexclaimed，suddenlyrousinghimself，andseizinghissoninafrenzybythecollarofthecoat。
“Gobacktothehotel。”shoutedBashwoodtheyoungertothecabman。“Holdyournoise！“headded，turningfiercelyonhisfather。“Iwanttothink。”
Thevarnishofsmoothnesswasalloffhimbythistime。Histemperwasroused。Hispride——evensuchamanhashispride！——waswoundedtothequick。Twicehadhematchedhiswitsagainstawoman’s;andtwicethewomanhadbaffledhim。
Hegotout，onreachingthehotelforthesecondtime，andprivatelytriedtheservantswiththeofferofmoney。Theresultoftheexperimentsatisfiedhimthattheyhad，inthisinstance，reallyandtrulynoinformationtosell。Afteramoment’sreflection，hestopped，beforeleavingthehotel，toaskthewaytotheparishchurch。“Thechancemaybeworthtrying。”hethoughttohimself，ashegavetheaddresstothedriver。
“Faster！“hecalledout，lookingfirstathiswatch，andthenathisfather。“Theminutesarepreciousthismorning;andtheoldoneisbeginningtogivein。”
Itwastrue。Stillcapableofhearingandofunderstanding，Mr。
Bashwoodwaspastspeakingbythistime。Heclungwithbothhandstohisson’sgrudgingarm，andlethisheadfallhelplesslyonhisson’savertedshoulder。
Theparishchurchstoodbackfromthestreet，protectedbygatesandrailings，andsurroundedbyaspaceofopenground。Shakingoffhisfather’shold，Bashwoodtheyoungermadestraightforthevestry。Theclerk，puttingawaythebooks，andtheclerk’sassistant，hangingupasurplice，weretheonlypersonsintheroomwhenheentereditandaskedleavetolookatthemarriageregisterfortheday。
Theclerkgravelyopenedthebook，andstoodasidefromthedeskonwhichitlay。
Theday’sregistercomprisedthreemarriagessolemnizedthatmorning;andthefirsttwosignaturesonthepagewere“AllanArmadale“and“LydiaGwilt！“
Eventhespy——ignorantashewasofthetruth，unsuspiciousashewasoftheterriblefutureconsequencestowhichtheactofthatmorningmightlead——eventhespystarted，whenhiseyefirstfellonthepage。Itwasdone！Comewhatmightofit，itwasdonenow。
There，inblackandwhite，wastheregisteredevidenceofthemarriage，whichwasatonceatruthinitself，andalieintheconclusiontowhichitled！There——throughthefatalsimilarityinthenames——there，inMidwinter’sownsignature，wastheprooftopersuadeeverybodythat，notMidwinter，butAllan，wasthehusbandofMissGwilt！
Bashwoodtheyoungerclosedthebook，andreturnedittotheclerk。Hedescendedthevestrysteps，withhishandsthrustdoggedlyintohispockets，andwithaseriousshockinflictedonhisprofessionalself-esteem。
Thebeadlemethimunderthechurchwall。Heconsideredforamomentwhetheritwasworthwhiletospendashillinginquestioningtheman，anddecidedintheaffirmative。Iftheycouldbetracedandovertaken，theremightbeachanceofseeingthecolorofMr。Armadale’smoneyevenyet。
“Howlongisit。”heasked，“sincethefirstcouplemarriedherethismorningleftthechurch？”
“Aboutanhour。”saidthebeadle。
“Howdidtheygoaway？”
Thebeadledeferredansweringthatsecondquestionuntilhehadfirstpocketedhisfee。
“Youwon’ttracethemfromhere，sir。”hesaid，whenhehadgothisshilling。“Theywentawayonfoot。”
“Andthatisallyouknowaboutit？”
“That，sir，isallIknowaboutit。”
Leftbyhimself，eventheDetectiveofthePrivateInquiryOfficepausedforamomentbeforehereturnedtohisfatheratthegate。
Hewasrousedfromhishesitationbythesuddenappearance，withinthechurchinclosure，ofthedriverofthecab。
“I’mafraidtheoldgentlemanisgoingtobetakenill，sir。”
saidtheman。
Bashwoodtheyoungerfrownedangrily，andwalkedbacktothecab。
Asheopenedthedoorandlookedin，hisfatherleanedforwardandconfrontedhim，withlipsthatmovedspeechlessly，andwithawhitestillnessoveralltherestofhisface。
“She’sdoneus。”saidthespy。“Theyweremarriedherethismorning。”
Theoldman’sbodyswayedforamomentfromonesidetotheother。Theinstantafter，hiseyesclosedandhisheadfellforwardtowardthefrontseatofthecab。“Drivetothehospital！“criedhisson。“He’sinafit。Thisiswhatcomesofputtingmyselfoutofmywaytopleasemyfather。”hemuttered，sullenlyraisingMr。Bashwood’shead，andlooseninghiscravat。
“Anicemorning’swork。Uponmysoul，anicemorning’swork！“
Thehospitalwasnear，andthehousesurgeonwasathispost。
“Willhecomeoutofit？”askedBashwoodtheyounger，roughly。
“Whoare_you？_“askedthesurgeon，sharply，onhisside。
“Iamhisson。”
“Ishouldn’thavethoughtit。”rejoinedthesurgeon，takingtherestorativesthatwerehandedtohimbythenurse，andturningfromthesontothefatherwithanairofreliefwhichhewasatnopainstoconceal。“Yes。”headded，afteraminuteortwo;“
yourfatherwillcomeoutofitthistime。”
“Whencanhebemovedawayfromhere？”
“Hecanbemovedfromthehospitalinanhourortwo。”
Thespylaidacardonthetable。“I’llcomebackforhimorsendforhim。”hesaid。“IsupposeIcangonow，ifIleavemynameandaddress？”Withthosewords，heputonhishat，andwalkedout。
“He’sabrute！“saidthenurse。
“No。”saidthesurgeon，quietly。“He’saman。”
*******
Betweennineandteno’clockthatnight，Mr。BashwoodawokeinhisbedattheinnintheBorough。Hehadsleptforsomehourssincehehadbeenbroughtbackfromthehospital;andhismindandbodywerenowslowlyrecoveringtogether。
Alightwasburningonthebedsidetable，andaletterlayonit，waitingforhimtillhewasawake。Itwasinhisson’shandwriting，anditcontainedthesewords:
“MYDEARDAD——Havingseenyousafeoutofthehospital，andbackatyourhotel，IthinkImayfairlyclaimtohavedonemydutybyyou，andmayconsidermyselffreetolookaftermyownaffairs。
Businesswillpreventmefromseeingyouto-night;andIdon’tthinkitatalllikelyIshallbeinyourneighborhoodto-morrowmorning。MyadvicetoyouistogobacktoThorpeAmbrose，andtosticktoyouremploymentinthesteward’soffice。WhereverMr。
Armadalemaybe，hemust，soonerorlater，writetoyouonbusiness。Iwashmyhandsofthewholematter，mind，sofarasI
amconcerned，fromthistimeforth。Butif_you_liketogoonwithit，myprofessionalopinionis(thoughyoucouldn’thinderhismarriage)，youmayparthimfromhiswife。
“Praytakecareofyourself。
“Youraffectionateson，“JAMESBASHWOOD。”
Theletterdroppedfromtheoldman’sfeeblehands。“IwishJemmycouldhavecometoseemeto-night。”hethought。“Butit’sverykindofhimtoadviseme，allthesame。”
Heturnedwearilyonthepillow，andreadtheletterasecondtime。“Yes。”hesaid，“there’snothingleftformebuttogoback。I’mtoopoorandtoooldtohuntafterthemallbymyself。”
Heclosedhiseyes:thetearstrickledslowlyoverhiswrinkledcheeks。“I’vebeenatroubletoJemmy。”hemurmured，faintly;
“I’vebeenasadtrouble，I’mafraid，topoorJemmy！“Inaminutemorehisweaknessoverpoweredhim，andhefellasleepagain。
Theclockoftheneighboringchurchstruck。Itwasten。Asthebelltolledthehour，thetidaltrain——withMidwinterandhiswifeamongthepassengers——wasspeedingnearerandnearertoParis。Asthebelltolledthehour，thewatchonboardAllan’soutward-boundyachthadsightedthelight-houseofftheLand’sEnd，andhadsetthecourseofthevesselforUshantandFinisterre。
THEENDOFTHETHIRDBOOK。
BOOKTHEFOURTH。
CHAPTERI。
MISSGWILT’SDIARY。
“NAPLES，October10th——Itistwomonthsto-daysinceIdeclaredthatIhadclosedmyDiary，nevertoopenitagain。
“WhyhaveIbrokenmyresolution？WhyhaveIgonebacktothissecretfriendofmywretchedestandwickedesthours？BecauseIammorefriendlessthanever;becauseIammorelonelythanever，thoughmyhusbandissittingwritinginthenextroomtome。Mymiseryisawoman’smisery，andit_will_speak——here，ratherthannowhere;tomysecondself，inthisbook，ifIhavenooneelsetohearme。
“HowhappyIwasinthefirstdaysthatfollowedourmarriage，andhowhappyImade_him！_Onlytwomonthshavepassed，andthattimeisaby-gonetimealready！ItrytothinkofanythingI
mighthavesaidordonewrongly，onmyside——ofanythinghemighthavesaidordonewrongly，onhis;andIcanremembernothingunworthyofmyhusband，nothingunworthyofmyself。Icannotevenlaymyfingeronthedaywhenthecloudfirstrosebetweenus。
“Icouldbearit，ifIlovedhimlessdearlythanIdo。Icouldconquerthemiseryofourestrangement，ifheonlyshowedthechangeinhimasbrutallyasothermenwouldshowit。
“Butthisneverhashappened——neverwillhappen。Itisnotinhisnaturetoinflictsufferingonothers。Notahardword，notahardlook，escapeshim。Itisonlyatnight，whenIhearhimsighinginhissleep，andsometimeswhenIseehimdreaminginthemorninghours，thatIknowhowhopelesslyIamlosingtheloveheoncefeltforme。Hehides，ortriestohide，itintheday，formysake。Heisallgentleness，allkindness;buthisheartisnotonhislipswhenhekissesmenow;hishandtellsmenothingwhenittouchesmine。Dayafterdaythehoursthathegivestohishatefulwritinggrowlongerandlonger;dayafterdayhebecomesmoreandmoresilentinthehoursthathegivestoMe。
“And，withallthis，thereisnothingthatIcancomplainof——nothingmarkedenoughtojustifymeinnoticingit。Hisdisappointmentshrinksfromallopenconfession;hisresignationcollectsitselfbysuchfinedegreesthatevenmywatchfulnessfailstoseethegrowthofit。FiftytimesadayIfeelthelonginginmetothrowmyarmsroundhisneck，andsay:’ForGod’ssake，doanythingtome，ratherthantreatmelikethis！’
andfiftytimesadaythewordsareforcedbackintomyheartbythecruelconsideratenessofhisconduct;whichgivesmenoexcuseforspeakingthem。IthoughtIhadsufferedthesharpestpainthatIcouldfeelwhenmyfirsthusbandlaidhiswhipacrossmyface。IthoughtIknewtheworstthatdespaircoulddoonthedaywhenIknewthattheothervillain，themeanervillainstill，hadcastmeoff。Liveandlearn。ThereissharperpainthanI
feltunderWaldron’swhip;thereisbittererdespairthanthedespairIknewwhenManueldesertedme。
“AmItoooldforhim？Surelynotyet！HaveIlostmybeauty？NotamanpassesmeinthestreetbuthiseyestellmeIama
